Discharge and purifying device for gaseous products



Oct. 15, 1968 l HUMEZ ET AL BA-Qfifi DISCHARGE AND PURIFYING DEVICE FOR GASEOUS PRODUCTS Filed March 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1968 J. HUMEZ ET AL 3,40%,Q98

DISCHARGE AND PURIFYING DEVICE FOR GASEOUS PRODUCTS Filed March 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet Z United States Patent 3,406,098 DISCHARGE AND PURIFYING DEVICE FOR GASEOUS PRODUCTS Joachim Humez, Wingles, Maurice Germain Jacques Meunier, Pont-a-Vendin, and Louis Pierre Clement Soubrier, Lambres-lez-Douai, France, assignors to Houilleres du Bassin du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, Nord, France Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,794 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 24, 1964,

- 968,413 I 10 Claims. (Cl. 202-263) Apparatus has already been designed for catching the smoke given off during the charging of coke oven cells. In certain designs, this apparatus is supported by the charging vehicle, often known as the coal-car.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a device of the kind referred to but which posseses outstanding simplicity, eflicacy and ease of operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a retractable smoke-box which is associated with each charging hole and cooperates through a sliding joint with a fixed pipe, the several pipes being themselves connected to a hydraulic purifier whose inclined chamber, which is crossed by transverse water curtains, leads to a centrifugal separator Whose outlet is fitted with a suction device.

The separator may surmount an input and offtake tank connected to the suction end of a pump whose delivery end is connected to the nozzles generating said water curtains. v

In one embodiment of the invention, the junction between the smoke-box and the corresponding rigid pipe is effected through the medium of a sliding plate obturating device comprising, opposite the end flange of said pipe, a sliding plate which embodies an opening adapted to register with said flange in the position establishing communication between tne smoke-box and the pipe, and which conversely offers a solid portion opposite said flange in the position for cutting 01f said communication.

Such an arrangement permits raising a smoke-box as soon as the corresponding hopper of the coal-car has been emptied, since this raised position avoids any intake of external air, the presence of which could be dangerous while suction is still underway on the other smoke-boxes.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying non-limitative exemplary drawings will give a clear understanding of how the invention can be carried into practice.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view with partial sections of a smoke-box catching and purifying device according to the invention; and

FIGURES 2 and 3 are sectional drawings of a sliding plate obturating joint between a smoke-box and the corresponding suction pipe, showing two diiferent positions of the joint, in one of which communication is established and in the other out off.

The apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 comprises, positioned in juxtaposition with the filling hoppers 1 of a coal-ear, and surrounding the telescopic tube 2 of each of said hoppers (which tube penetrates into the corresponding charging hole 3 of a subjacent coke-oven cell), a downwardly and upwardly movable smoke-box 4 which is adapted to be applicable, by the underneath peripheral surface of a flange rigid with said smoke-box, around the opening of the charging hole 3 when the smoke-box is lowered. The extreme right smoke-box in FIG. 1 is shown in raised position whereas, the three other smokeboxes to the left are shown in lowered position.

Associated with each smoke-box 4 is a rigid pipe 5 which communicates with the interior of the smoke-box ice via a joint not shown in detail in FIG. 1 but to be described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The pipes 5 form a cluster of rising branches which meet at one of the extremities of a bend 6. The other extremity of this bend is connected to a purifier 7 consisting of a tubular chamber whose downstream portion is lower than said bend, and this chamber is traversed by the smoke from the different charging holes, which passes through water curtains produced by nozzles 8 distributed over the length and possibly the cross-sections of said purifier 7.

The lower end of purifying chamber 7 is connected to a vessel 9 constituting a centrifugal separator. The conical base 10 of this separator is equipped with a discharge conduit 11 positioned above a receiving tank 12. Connected to the lower portion of tank 12 is the suction end of a pump 13 whose delivery end is connected to a spray-bank 14 from which the nozzles 8 are tapped in parallel. 7

Within an internal tubular skirt 15 provided at the top of the separator 9 is formed the suction orifice of a fan 16 which exhausts into a pipe 17 that may be led into a flare bleeder for burning the purified gas inthe atmosphere, though it will be manifest that such discharge may take place Without combustion if desired.

The joint between any one smoke-box 4 and a corresponding pipe 5 may be provided in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In this specific form, the passage 18 forming the outlet from a smoke-box 4 is connected through a flange 19 to a plate 20 having an aperture 21 formed therein opposite the opening in the passage 18.

Opposite the flange 19, the terminal flange 23 of one of the pipes 5 is applied against the fiat face 22 of the plate 20. This pipe 5 is rigidly connected to rails 24 over which run pairs of wheels 25 whose axles are carried by blocks 26 mounted in slideways 27 rigid with said plate 20. The blocks 26 are biased by springs 28 inserted into the slideways in such manner that the face 22 of the plate 20 is pressed elastically and 'slidably against the flange 23.

The ends of the plate 20 are bent into acute-angled hooks 30 adapted to cooperate with the bevelled ends 29 of the rails 24.

In the position shown in FIGURE 2, which corresponds to the lowered position of a smoke-box 4, the aperture 21 registers with the opening of a pipe 5. In the position 'shown in FIGURE 3, said opening registers with a solid portion of the plate 20.

In both these positions, the cooperation of the hooks 30 with the bevelled ends 29 of rails 24 provides an additional grip between the plate 20 and the pipe 5 over and above the pressure exerted by the springs 28. Manifestly, additional clamping means could be provided.

The apparatus described hereinabove functions in the following manner:

During the charging operation shown in FIGURE 1, the smoke issuing from the charging holes 3 is collected by the smoke-box 4 placed in their lowermost positions. The fan 16, which possesses appropriately chosen characteristics, sucks up this smoke through the hydraulic purifier 7 after it has crossed the water curtains produced by the nozzles 8 under the action of the pump 13. As it passes through these transverse water curtains, the smoke is cooled and freed of dust. Because the purifier 7 slopes downwardly, the gases and the water flow in the same direction. On issuing from the purifier they penetrate into the separator 9, the water flowing out therefrom through the conduit 11 into the tank 12 from which the pump 13 draws its supply.

The purified smoke is then sucked through the fan 16 and discharged. The smoke may be either freely discharged, burned in a flare-bleeder, or subjected to a recuperation operation if desired.

The pipes 5 are rigidly mounted on the coal-car and the mobility of the smoke-boxes 4 is provided by the sliding plate obturating device shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Such a joint avoids the use of a flexible material, which would be unable to withstand the heat and corrosive effect of the charge gases.

Furthermore, such a joint automatically acts as an obturator preventing the fan 16 from sucking in the surrounding air when a smoke-box 4 is in the raised position. The plate 20, which is parallel to the axis of motion of the smoke-box 4, provides substantial leaktightness in respect of the surrounding atmosphere in all positions of the smoke-box, and absolute leaktightness in its two extreme positions.

It goes without saying that many changes and substitutions of parts may be made in the forms of embodiment hereinbefore described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A device for catching and purifying smoke produced during the charging of a coke oven provided with at least one charging hole, comprising, in combination, in respect of said charging hole of said coke oven, a retractable smoke-box, a fixed suction pipe, a sliding joint means between said smoke-box and said pipe to provide first and second relative positions between said smoke-box and pipe, the smoke-box and pipe being in communication with one another in said first position and isolated from the ambient atmosphere, whereas in the second position the smoke-box is open to atmosphere and the pipe is isolated therefrom, a hydraulic purifier having an inclined chamber and including low and top portions of which the top portion is operatively connected with said pipe, a separator operatively connected to the low portion of said hydraulic purifier, said separator being provided with a gas outlet, and suction means operatively connected to said gas outlet of said hydraulic separator.

2. A device for catching and purifying smoke produced during the charging of a coke oven provided with a plurality of charging holes, comprising, in combination, in respect of said plurality of charging holes of said coke oven, a corresponding plurality of smoke-boxes, a corresponding plurality of suction pipes, a corresponding plurality of sliding joint means between each of said smoke-boxes and pipes to provide first and second relative positions between respective smoke-boxes and pipes, each said smoke-box and its respective pipe being in communication with one another in said first position and isolated from the ambient atmosphere, whereas in the second position the smoke-box is open to atmosphere and the pipe is isolated therefrom, a common hydraulic purifier having an inclined chamber, and including low and top portions of which the top portion is operatively connected with said pipes, a hydraulic separator having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet operatively connected to the low portion of said chamber, and suction means operatively connected to said gas outlet of said separator.

3. A device for catching and purifying smoke produced when charging a coke oven provided with a plurality of charging holes, comprising, in combination, with respect to said plurality of charging holes of said coke oven, at corresponding plurality of smoke-boxes, a corresponding plurality of suction pipes, a corresponding plurality of sliding joint means between each of "said smoke-boxes and pipes to provide first and second relative positions between respective smoke-boxes and pipes, each said smokebox and its respective pipe being in communication with one another in said first position and isolated from the ambient atmosphere, whereas in the second position the smoke-box is open to atmosphere and the pipe is isolated therefrom, a common hydraulic purifier having an inclined chamber, nozzles in a wall of said chamber, said nozzles being transversely disposed with respect to the inclined direction of said chamber, feeding means for said nozzles, whereby said nozzles produce transverse liquid curtains in said chamber, said inclined chamber in cluding a top portion operatively connected with said pipes and a low portion, a hydraulic separator having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, operatively connected to the low portion of said chamber, andsuction means operatively connected to said gas outlet of said separator.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a liquid collecting tank positioned under said separator liquid outlet, and a suction inlet means in said tank for said feeding means.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said suction pipe is fixed and includes an end flange and each said sliding joint means between said smoke-boxes and corresponding suction pipes, comprises a sliding plate obturating joint device having opposite the end flange of the corresponding pipe, a sliding plate rigid with said smoke-box and including a solid portion provided with a communication aperture, said aperture registering with said corresponding pipe in said first position at which time said smoke-box is juxtaposed with the corresponding charging hole, said solid portion obturating said pipe in said second position, at which time said smoke-box is separated from said corresponding charging hole.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means interposed between said plate and said suction pipe to urge said pipe against the plate.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising supplementary clamping means operative to provide two opposite limit positions for said plate.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means which urges the pipe against the plate comprises rails rigidly secured to said pipe and slidable on said sliding plate, and spring-loaded rollers secured to said smokebox and in rollable contact with said rail.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sliding plate includes hooked end portions for engaging the rails at the ends thereof as the sliding plate moves between said first and second positions.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sliding joint means includes a sliding plate rigid with said smoke-box and having an aperture therein, said plate being 'slidable between said first and second positions, said sliding plate being adjacent said pipe which has an outlet in the plane of movement of the sliding plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,976,949 3/1961 Murphy et al. 261-415 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 631,941 11/ 1949 Great Britain. 350,781 6/ 1931 Great Britain. 842,662 7/ 1960 Great Britain.

JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CATCHING AND PURIFYING SMOKE PRODUCED DURING THE CHARGING OF A COKE OVEN PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE CHARGING HOLE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, IN RESPECT OF SAID CHARGING HOLE OF SAID COKE OVEN, A RETRACTABLE SMOKE-BOX, A FIXED SUCTION PIPE, A SLIDING JOINT MEANS BETWEEN SAID SMOKE-BOX AND SAID PIPE TO PROVIDE FIRST AND SECOND RELATIVE POSITIONS BETWEEN SAID SMOKE-BOX AND PIPE, THE SMOKE-BOX AND PIPE BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE ANOTHER IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND ISOLATED FROM THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE, WHEREAS IN THE SECOND POSITION THE SMOKE-BOX IS OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE AND THE PIPE IS ISOLATED THEREFROM, A HYDRAULIC URIFIER HAVING AN INCLINED CHAMBER AND INCLUDING LOW AND TOP PORTIONS OF WHICH THE TOP PORTION IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID PIPE, A SEPARATOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LOW PORTION OF SAID HYDRAULIC PURIFIER, SAID SEPARATOR BEING PROVIDED WITH A GAS, OUTLET, AND SUCTION MEANS OPEATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID GAS OUTLET OF SAID HYDRAULIC SEPARATOR. 